Rampur Double Cask Single Malt

Review #060 Type: Indian single malt whisky Proof: 45% Comments: NAS, matured in ex-bourbon barrels then finished in European oak ex-sherry casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs start forming moderately quickly. Nose: 15/20 Yellow pears, apple cider, grain cereal, and apricots. Overall it’s subtle but the aromas mingle nicely together. Palate: 33/40 Dark chocolate, honey, more grain cereal, raisins, and vanilla. Like the nose, it’s simple but enjoyable. Finish: 28/40 Medium-short finish. Burnt toast alongside something that’s almost but not quite fennel, which gives way to a dry earthiness, and a bit of wintergreen coolness ending on the mouth. With Water: A few drops of water brings out some cinnamon and nutmeg notes on the palate and finish. Total: 76/100 Final thoughts: This is an easy sipper with a unique flavor profile versus other single malts I’ve tried. The finish was especially unique, and while I didn’t love it on the first few sips, it grew on me over the course of my dram. It’s a nice summer night as I write these words, and I re-filled my glass a couple times while my dogs and I were sitting out on my back porch. If it were half the price, I’d likely replace replace this bottle once I finish it off, but at the current price I can’t justify another buy. There’s other easy sippers that are easier on my wallet. Price: $85 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Rampur Double Cask tasting notes: Nose - Fruity: Notes of tropical fruits including papaya, mango, guava, and pineapple. - Other Notes: Pears, mild acetone, with a bit of alcohol bite. - With Water: Water removes the alcohol bite and opens up more mixed fruit scents. Palate - Fruity: Continues with warmth, apples, and dried mango. Guava was starting to be more prominent with few drops of water. - Other Flavors: Salted caramel, raisins, and toffee. Decent mouth feel that is coating but not oily. Finish - Smoothness: Quite smooth with no alcohol burn. - Lingering Notes: Citrus and fruits, hint of cocoa, slight touch of salt, and dried sweet mango staying for a while. - Length: Medium finish but a good one. These notes were based on a neck pour (first pour), I left the whisky to breath for 15-20 mins and added 2ml of water. Overall it was a good start, this one has a good balance between bourbon and sherry taste. A very good NAS whisky with no youth or harshness even for the neck pour. Im sure the whisky is going to get better as i go down the bottle.

I happened to see this at my local Costco. I've never tried anything from India aside from beer. It was on sale too so I decided to give it a whirl. I gotta say this wasn't too shabby. The combination of fruit and oak in the aroma were fairly inviting. The tasting notes consisted of dried fruits that transitioned to the sherry cask flavors. Hints of vanilla and oak in the background as well. The finish lingered nicely with a bit of dryness. Easy drinking overall. I'd say this was something you could have anytime.

Oh man, the nose on this is intense spiced prunes and raisins at first. After a good 10 minutes vanilla, caramel, tropical fruits, apple cider, toasted oak, tobacco, browned butter and perhaps turmeric? and cumin? Very complex. The palate is viscous, creamy and semisweet with raisins, prunes, caramel, vanilla, tobacco, malt, dried tropical fruit and Indian spices. The finish is lengthy and warming with vanilla, dried fruits, baking and Indian spices.

NOSE Apple cider, oak, honey, nuts, dried tropical fruit, malty sweetness and a bit of herbal notes. Nice, this is soft and fruity without being spineless, a nice profile to start. PALATE Herbal, apple cider, dried pears, nuts, malty sweet, nutmeg, white pepper and some oak and tropical fruit. A very slight cocoa note appears as it opens, but on the whole it’s herbally fruity. FINISH Medium -> Malty, herbal, touchy oaky and baking spice.

Fascinating. A classic single malt, but with some water it REALLY opens up. Cherry, banana, and fruit sweetness in the body, with a sherry roundness thats lovely. Its also strangely floral, woth a hiney sweetness? Its good and complex.